Calibrated digital headset and audiometric test methods therewith

Abstract

A digital headset system for use in audiometric testing. The headset system includes a stored calibration reference relating the exact frequency and volume response of each speaker to analog input signals. A microprocessor accesses the calibration reference to determine the required analog signal needed to produce the desired sound. An on-board digital to analog converter generates the required analog signal and transmits it to the speaker. The headset is used with software based audiometric test methods that allow the generation of an electronic user hearing profile. The user hearing profile may be used to re-program an audio emitting device to function in a customized manner. The user hearing profile may be overlaid on a partner hearing profile in order to emulate for the partner how sounds are perceived by the user. The test methods may be self-administered or administered by a healthcare professional.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to the field of audiometric testing and analysis. More particularly, the invention relates to a calibrated digital headset for use with computer based audiometric test methods that may be either self-administered or administered by a trained test provider, such as a healthcare professional or industrial screener. Methods of audiometric testing using the headset and methods of adjusting the output of an audio emitting device to account for the hearing impairment of a particular listener are also disclosed.BACKGROUND[0002]In conventional audiometric testing, a test recipient is required to be assessed by a trained test provider, typically a healthcare professional, using an expensive and complicated piece of analog test equipment. The analog test equipment consists of a calibrated system comprising an analog headset and an analog tone generator capable of generating pure tone signals at several test frequencies and volume levels. The t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]The user hearing profile may be stored in a central data depository and may be uploaded or indexed on a central server for access by either the user, the partner, further healthcare professionals, or hearing aid manufacturers. This facilitates further diagnosis and the electronic ordering of customized hearing aid devices based upon the user hearing profile.

[0018]The method may further comprise: providing a microphone interconnected with an A/D converter for digitally deliver...

Problems solved by technology

In conventional audiometric testing, a test recipient is required to be assessed by a trained test provider, typically a healthcare professional, using an expensive and complicated piece of analog test equipment.

This requires both the headset and tone generator to be sent off-site to a certified calibration lab, taking them out of service for a prolonged period of time, and limits the testing performed with the system to only the prescribed frequencies.

There is therefore no way to test at intermediate frequencies in order to better discriminate a region of hearing loss.

In addition, the calibration of the analog equipment is often only performed at one loudness level, potentially leading to the equipment producing inaccurate loudness levels at other volumes.

There is no means to periodically check the calibration of a particular headset, nor is there a m...

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